Adjustable position reference lever for a wiper assembly in an ink-jet printer

Abstract

A wiper assembly for an ink-jet printer includes a sled subassembly movable between retracted and activated positions. A wiper is mounted on the sled subassembly to clean a nozzle section of the ink-jet print head when the sled subassembly is in an activated position. A movable rack supports and moves the sled subassembly between the retracted and activated positions. An adjustable position reference lever is operably mounted adjacent to the rack to establish a reference travel position for the sled subassembly between the retracted and activated positions. The position reference lever is capable upon adjustment of changing the reference travel position. In its preferred form, the position reference lever consists of a primary lever and a secondary lever movably connected to the primary lever. The secondary lever defines the reference travel position for the wiper assembly between the retracted and activated positions and is movable relative to the primary lever to change the reference travel position.

I claim: 
     
       1. A wiper assembly for an ink-jet printer, the ink-jet printer having an ink-jet print head, the wiper assembly comprising: a frame;   a sled subassembly movable between retracted and activated positions;   at least one wiper mounted on the sled subassembly to clean a nozzle section of the ink-jet print head when the sled subassembly is in an activated position;   a rack moveably mounted to the frame for supporting and moving the sled subassembly between the retracted and activated positions; and   an adjustable position reference lever movably mounted to the frame to move between engaged and disengaged positions so that when moved to the engaged position, the adjustable position reference lever establishes a reference travel position for the sled subassembly between the retracted and activated positions, the adjustable position reference lever being adjustable to change the reference travel position.   
     
     
       2. A wiper assembly according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable position reference lever has multiple settings where movement from one setting to another setting provides discrete increments of adjustment of the reference travel position. 
     
     
       3. A wiper assembly according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable position reference lever has a movable reference member defining the reference travel position for the sled subassembly, the reference member being moved to controllably change the reference travel position. 
     
     
       4. A wiper assembly according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable position reference lever includes: an upper reference member for establishing a top reference travel position for the sled subassembly;   a lower reference member spaced a selected distance from the upper reference member for establishing a bottom reference travel position for the sled subassembly; and   the position reference lever being capable upon adjustment of changing the selected distance between the upper and lower reference members.   
     
     
       5. A wiper assembly according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable position reference lever includes: an upper reference member for establishing a top reference travel position for the sled subassembly;   a lower reference member spaced a selected distance from the upper reference member for establishing a bottom reference travel position for the sled subassembly; and   the position reference lever being capable upon adjustment of changing the selected distance between the upper and lower reference members by a maximum of approximately 35 mils or less.   
     
     
       6. A wiper assembly according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable position reference lever includes: a movable upper reference member for establishing a top reference travel position for the sled subassembly;   a fixed lower reference member spaced a selected distance from the upper reference member for establishing a bottom reference travel position for the sled subassembly; and   the upper reference member being movable relative to the fixed lower reference member to controllably change the selected distance between the upper and lower reference members.   
     
     
       7. A wiper assembly according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable position reference lever includes: a rotatable upper reference member for establishing a top reference travel position for the sled subassembly;   a fixed lower reference member spaced a selected distance from the upper reference member for establishing a bottom reference travel position for the sled subassembly; and   rotation of the upper reference member being effective to controllably change the top reference travel position by a maximum of approximately 35 mils or less.   
     
     
       8. In an ink-jet printer having a wiper assembly which is moveable between retracted and activated positions to clean a nozzle section of an ink-jet print head when the wiper assembly is in an activated position, an adjustable position reference lever assembly for use in the wiper assembly comprising: a primary lever; and   a secondary lever movably connected to the primary lever, the secondary lever defining a reference travel position for the wiper assembly between the retracted and activated positions, the secondary lever being moveable relative to the primary lever to change the reference travel position.   
     
     
       9. An adjustable position reference lever assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a coupling for detachably connecting the secondary lever to the primary lever. 
     
     
       10. An adjustable position reference lever assembly according to claim 8 further comprising a coupling for detachably connecting the secondary lever to the primary lever, the coupling comprising a coupling aperture formed in the primary lever and a coupling flange provided on the secondary lever that is complementary to and received within the coupling aperture. 
     
     
       11. An adjustable position reference lever assembly according to claim 8 wherein the secondary lever is rotatably connected to the primary lever, the secondary lever having a reference member defining the reference travel position for the wiper assembly, the secondary lever being rotated relative to the primary lever to controllably change the reference travel position. 
     
     
       12. An adjustable position reference lever assembly according to claim 8 wherein the secondary lever is rotatably connected to the primary lever, the secondary lever having a reference member defining the reference travel position for the wiper assembly, the secondary lever being rotated relative to the primary lever to controllably change the reference travel position by a maximum of approximately 35 mils or less. 
     
     
       13. An adjustable position reference lever assembly according to claim 8 wherein: the primary lever has a fixed reference member defining a first reference travel position for the wiper assembly; and   the secondary lever has a movable reference member spaced a selected distance from the fixed reference member, the movable reference member defining a second reference travel position for the wiper assembly.   
     
     
       14. An adjustable position reference lever assembly according to claim 8 wherein: the primary lever has a fixed lower reference member defining a bottom reference travel position for the wiper assembly; and   the secondary lever is rotatably connected to the primary lever, the secondary lever having an upper reference member spaced a selected distance from the lower reference member, the upper reference member defining a top reference travel position for the wiper assembly, the secondary lever being rotated relative to the primary lever causing the upper reference member to rotate and thereby controllably change the top reference travel position.   
     
     
       15. An adjustable position reference lever assembly according to claim 8 further comprising: multiple spaced calibration indentations formed in the primary lever; and   the secondary lever having a detent sized to fit within the indentations to define selected position settings of the secondary lever relative to the primary lever, movement of the secondary lever from one setting to an adjacent setting providing discrete increments of adjustment of the reference travel position.   
     
     
       16. An adjustable position reference lever assembly for a wiper assembly in an ink-jet printer, the wiper assembly being moveable between retracted and activated positions to clean a nozzle section of an ink-jet print head when the wiper assembly is in an activated position, the position reference lever assembly comprising: a primary lever having a front side, a back side, an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section;   the primary lever having a coupling aperture formed in the middle section;   a detachable secondary lever rotatably connected to the primary lever, the secondary lever having a coupling flange complementary to and received within the coupling aperture to detachably connect the secondary lever to the primary lever; and   the secondary lever having a calibration arm positioned on the front side of the primary lever and a reference member projecting from the calibration arm through the coupling aperture to the back side of the primary lever, the reference member defining a reference travel position for the wiper assembly between the retracted and activated positions, movemeht of the calibration arm causing rotation of the reference member to thereby change the reference travel position.   
     
     
       17. An adjustable position reference lever assembly according to claim 16 wherein the reference member is rotatable an amount effective to change the reference travel position a maximum of approximately 35 mils or less. 
     
     
       18. An adjustable position reference lever assembly according to claim 16 wherein the reference member is rotatable an amount effective to change the reference travel position a maximum of approximately 28 mils. 
     
     
       19. An adjustable position reference lever assembly according to claim 16 further comprising: multiple spaced calibration indentations formed in the front side of the primary lever; and   the calibration arm of the secondary lever having a detent sized to fit within the indentations to define selected settings of the calibration arm, movement of the calibration arm from one setting to an adjacent setting providing discrete increments of adjustment of the reference member.   
     
     
       20. An adjustable position reference lever assembly according to claim 16 wherein: the reference member of the secondary lever defines a top reference travel position for the wiper assembly; and   the primary lever has a fixed reference member provided at the back side, lower section thereof; the fixed reference member defining a bottom reference travel position for the wiper assembly.